Central High School - Blackhawk Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

Page 12 text:

At lust, they were at liberty And started home again; A storm arose upon the sea And washed o'er board, a man. He saved the man. but brol e his leg. So badly hurt was he That to the hospital was sent. And ne'er again to sea. He soon came to America To J ew England, and thence To Philadelphia, where he met The young Custom Lawrence. Who offered him a sergeant's ran . Adventures, too, and grave; And Davenport the army joined. To fight the Indians brave. He first, to New Orleans was sent With General Wilkinson. They stopped Burr's expedition, there Arrested every one. Through years of strife with red men. He builded many a fort. Arose from ran of sergeant, up To Colonel Davenport. After many adventur'us years He'd served his country long. He left that tvor for private life. Came to old Fort Armstrong. He built a home quite near the fort. And moved his family there, Was l nown and loved by every one, Especially. LeClaire. A trader, he. called ''Saganash By Indians far and near; To the white men. protector strong. And friend both l ind and dear. • When Davenport a town became In thirty-six. you see. Eight men did lay it out in sites. They formed a company. Gordon. McGregor. Colton. Smith. Hambaugh. May. and LeClaire. With Davenport, each for a sum Did buy himself a share. Two thousand dollars was the price. The town was one mile square. Two hundred fifty dollars each. Col. George Davenport Did start the village fair.

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The Ballad of the Century By Maurine Keller Antoine LeClairc. a pioneer. Helped blase the trail for us. Of Indians, he had no fear. They were his friends to trust. 'Twas seventeen hundred ninety-seven Antoine LeClaire was born In Michigan, mongst red men’s homes He saw the light of mom. His father was a Frenchman, a Canadian was he. His mother was descendant of A Pottowottomie. The officers first saw LeClaire In Indian blanket true. When down Rock. River s treach'rous stream. He paddled his canoe. Antoine, it u-as, and Davenport. Attracted by the boy. Made friends with him and asl ed him then To join the post's employ. Antoine LeClaire was versatile. A linguist good, which meant That he could be of service to The U. S. Government. So he was made interpreter For off'cers at the fort; Became a dear devoted friend Of Colonel Davenport. He married the granddaughter of A coqua, chief of Sacs. The Indians seemed to think of this In making future pacts. He helped negotiate the one With Keokuk's warrior band. When to his wife the Indians gave A section of their land. A section of their land, they gave. With it a strict decree That on the land, a house be built; To this he did agree. Upon this land he built his home. And soon a town did start. He named it for his dearest friend. The Colonel Davenport. Throughout the years, some good, some ill. This sturdy man did live His friends and neighbors each to serve And of his wealth to give. 'Twas said, by all. He has no peer Of Indian or White. Intelligent, kind, honest, brave; To honor him is right. An Englishman was Davenport, A gentleman was he. His life began in Lincolnshire In sev'nteen eighty-three. When he was only seventeen They sent him out to sea. Upon his Uncle’s ship to learn A ship's master to be. For three years he did sail about; To Baltic ports they went. Until in Russia's port they docked. And were to prison sent.

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'36 YEARBOOK The first hotel or tavern came Into existence then. With Edward Powers manager. And other earnest men. James Mackintosh opened a store. Built by Antoine LeClaire. With general assortment of Provisions and hardware.